Ford has also added its latest SYNC 3 infotainment platform with 8-inch display with ‘pinch and swipe’ capacitive touch technology and access to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The FX4 is available in four exclusive exterior colours – frozen white, ingot silver, magnetic and shadow black.

Ford Australia president and CEO Graeme Whickman said the company “developed the Ranger FX4 for our customers that are a bit bolder than most and make use of the towing and payload capabilities of the Ranger XLT”.

Performance remains the same as the XLT, with the 147kW/470Nm 5-cylinder 3.2-litre turbo diesel engine, a choice of six-speed manual transmission and automatic transmissions and 3500kg towing capacity.

The FX4 costs $3500 more than the XLT and puts it within a few hundred dollars’ striking distance of the Wildtrak.